Frio County Pesticide Applicator Newsletter

Transcription

1 Frio County Pesticide Applicator Newsletter September 2010 Volume 3, Issue 3 Jaime Lopez 400 S. Pecan County Extension Agent - Ag Pearsall, Texas Frio County 830/ jx-lopez@tamu.edu Worker Protection Standard The program is responsible for training and implementing the provisions of the federal Worker Protection Standard regulations and the state worker protection law, known as the Texas Agricultural Hazard Communication Law (Right-to-know) (and the Right-to-Know regulations). The Worker Protection Standard and the How to Comply Manual are available online. Basic Elements In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued final regulations governing the protection of employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses from occupational exposures to agricultural pesticides. The Worker Protection Standard covers both workers in areas treated with pesticides, and employees who handle (mix, load, apply, etc.) pesticides. EPA s previous regulations were in adequate to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers who are occupationally exposed to pesticides. The revised regulations have exposure reduction measures that will reduce the risk of pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. SUMMARY OF WPS REQUIREMENTS * Protection during applications Handlers are prohibited from applying a pesticide in a way that will expose workers or other persons, workers; workers are excluded from areas during treatment with pesticides. * Restricted-entry intervals (REIs) REIs are established for all pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants, ranging from 12 to 72 hours, depending on toxicity. Workers are excluded from areas under an REI, with only narrow exceptions.

2 *Personal protective equipment (PPE) PPE must be provided and maintained for handlers and early-entry workers. *Notification of workers Workers must be notified about treated areas so they may avoid inadvertent exposures. *Decontamination Supplies Handlers and workers must have ample supply of water, soap, and towels for routine washing and emergency decontamination. *Emergency assistance Transportation must be made available to a medical care facility if a worker or handler may have been poisoned or injured. Information must be provided about the pesticide to which the person may have exposed. *Pesticide safety training and safety posters Training is required for all workers and handlers, and a pesticide safety poster must be displayed. *Access to labeling and site specific information Handlers and workers must be informed of pesticide label requirements and information. Central posting of recent pesticide applications made on the agricultural establishment is required. Texas Department of Agriculture Extends Cotton Stalk Destruction Deadline for Zone 2 Areas 2 and 3 AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Agriculture announced today the cotton stalk destruction deadline has been extended for cotton growers in Zone 2 Areas 2 and 3 due to wet weather that delayed planting. The new Sept. 22 destruction deadline applies to current cotton fields in Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, and San Patricio counties; the northern portion of Kenedy county; the southern part of Bee county; the southern part of Live Oak county; and portions of Aransas county. Deadlines for cotton stalk destruction are established by regulations adopted under the Cotton Pest Control Law to help control boll weevils. After the deadline, cotton stalks are not allowed to have squares, blooms or un-cracked bolls, and must remain without fruiting structures until emergence of the new cotton crop next spring. Cotton is a host for the boll weevil. The beetle remains the most destructive cotton pest in North America. The Texas Legislature established the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation in 1993 to eradicate the pest and ensure Texas remains the No. 1 cotton-producing state in the nation. Cotton has more than a $4 billion annual economic impact on the Lone Star State. For more information, contact the TDA Valley Regional Office at (956)

3 CEU Frequently Asked Questions How many CEUs do I need? *Private.. 15 CEUs 2 credits in laws and regulations and 2 credits in integrated pest management (IPM) 10 hours may be earned with an approved Internet or correspondence courses. *Agricultural Commercial/Noncommercial - 5 CEUs 1 credit each from 2 of the following categories: laws and regulation, integrated pest management or drift minimization. CEUs may be earned with an approved Internet or correspondence courses every other year. *Structural Certified Applicators - 3 CEUs (minimum) 2 general and 1 in each category in which the applicator is certified. 1 general CEU must be in federal and state laws, pesticide safety, environmental protection or integrated pest management. 1 CEU may be earned with an approved Internet or correspondence courses No course may be repeated for credit within the same re-certification year. When must I earn required CEUs? Agricultural: Prior to the expiration of the license Structural: CEU requirements are for the calendar year (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31). For example, if you renew at any time in 2010, you must have taken your CEUs during calendar year Applicators are not required to earn CEUs during the first year in which their license is issued. How long do I need to keep certificates of completion? Agricultural: Certificates of completion must be maintained by the applicator for a period of 12 months after the most recent renewal of their license or certificate. The department may audit CEUs during an onsite inspection or by requesting copies of certificates of completion to be mailed to the department. Structural: Certificate of completion must be kept for a period of two years. The department may audit CEUs during an onsite inspection or by requesting copies of certificates of completion be mailed to the department.

4 Pesticide update-epa moves to terminate all uses of Endosulfan John D. Hopkins The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to end all uses of the insecticide Endosulfan in the United States. The EPA indicates the Endosulfan, which is used on vegetables, fruits, and cotton, can pose unacceptable neurological and reproductive risks to farm workers and wildlife and can persist in the environment. New data generated in response to the agency s 2002 decision have shown that risks faced by workers are greater than previously known. EPA also finds that there are risks above the agency s level of concern to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, as well as to birds and mammals that consume aquatic prey which have ingested Endosulfan. Farm workers can be exposed to Endosulfan through inhalation and contact with the skin. Endosulfan is used on a very small percentage of the U.S. food supply and does not present a risk to human health from dietary exposure. Makhteshim Agan of North America, the manufacturer or Endosulfan, is in discussions with EPA to voluntarily terminate all Endoulfan uses. EPA is currently working out the details of the decision that will eliminate all Ensosulfan uses, while incorporating consideration of the needs for growers to allow for a timely move to lower-risk pest control practices. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA must consider Endosulfan s risks and benefits. While EPA implemented various restrictions in a 2002 reregistration decision, EPA s phase out is based on new data and scientific peer review, which have improved EPA s assessment of the ecological and worker risks from Endosulfan. EPA s 2010 revised ecological risk assessment reflects a comprehensive review of all available exposure and ecological effects information for Endosulfan, including independent external peerreviewed recommendations made by the 1950s, also is used on ornamental shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants. It has no residential uses. For more information go to: Pesticide update - EPA cancels Over n Out! And Temprid SC receives supplemental bedbug label John D. Hopkins The EPA has cancelled Bayer/Garden Tech s registration for Over n Out! Fire Ant Killer Broadcast Granules (0.01 % fipronil) and this product will not be sold after May 15, The commercial/professional products, Top Choice (0.0143% fipronil) and Choice (0.1 % fipronil), will still be available for application by licensed professionals only. The link to the federal register article explaining the EPA cancellation is: For those familiar with Regent SC, 80WG, and 1.5G, well, they are gone too! Bayer s Temprid SC insecticide is a new product now labeled for both indoor and outdoor use to control a wide variety of household, perimeter, and some ornamental pests. It is available as a suspension concentrate, with one gallon of the product containing 2 pounds of imidacloprid and 1 pound of betacyfluthrin. Temprid is registered in all stated except Alaska, and registration is pending in New York. Temprid SC Insecticide also has a supplemental label good through April 14, 2011 for indoor application to control bedbugs.

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